Barrel with automatic door panel



June 21,1960 w. H. JACKSON BARREL WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR PANEL I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1958 June 21, 1960 w. H. JACKSON 2,941,656

BARREL WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR PANEL Filed May 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 21, 1960 w. H. JACKSON 2,941,656

BARREL WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR PANEL Filed May 5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 722271 fi/Jkciso United States Patent BARREL WITH AUTOMATIC noon PANEL William H. Jackson, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to The Udylite Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware .Filed May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 733,173

10 Claims. (Cl. 198143) This invention relates generally to bulk plating machines wherein barrels, each of which contains a multitude of small articles, are passed through the machine, and more particularly to an improved barrel construction for such a machine.

In machines of the above type, the barrels must be opened at the unloading station for removal of the plated parts and then moved to the loading station and filled with parts to be plated. These unloading and loading operations can involve considerable time .and manual manipulation of the barrel and parts unless done more or less automatically. However, it is diflicult to accomplish automatic opening and closing of. the barrel Without necessitating an expensive barrel and barrel handling construction.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an improved barrel having a door which operates automatically to open and close the barrel for unloading and loading purposes and is automatically latched in a desired position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a barrel construction which includes a door that is opened and closed in response to rotation of the barrel which is readily accomplished sincethe barrell is necessarily mounted for rotation in at least some of the machine tanks to insure an intimate contact of the solution with all of the surfaces of the parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a barrel construction which includes an improved spring-pressed latch assembly.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a barrel construction for a machine of the above type which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and

readily operable in a plating or similar material handling apparatus to effect opening and closing of the barrel-at desired stations in the apparatus.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanyingdrawing in which:

Figure Us a plan view of a plating machine, showing the machine partly in schematic form and showing an illustrative arrangement of the tanks and the manner in which a plurality of work containing barrels are conducted through the machine;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the barrel of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the barrel of this invention looking substantially along the line 3-3 n He Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the barrel of this invention showing the barrel in a position immediately prior to opening of the door therefor and showing a door opening stop mounted adjacent the barrel.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, illustrated similarly to Fig. 4, showing the position of the barrel immediately prior to closing of the door therefor and illustrating a stationary door closing stop in assembly relation with the barrel;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the barrel of 2,941,656 Patented June 21, 1960 this invention provided with a latch assembly of modified form; and

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional views looking substantially along the lines 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9,-respectively, inFig. 6.

With reference to the drawing, barrels constructed according to this invention, and indicated generally at 10, are illustrated in Fig. 1 mounted on a plating machine 12. The machine 12 has a plurality of tanks arranged around a central frame 16 and operates to move each barrel through the tanks. For purposes. of illustration, the unload and load stations are located, respectively, at U and L at the right hand end of the machine 12 and the work travels in the direction of the arrow 18.

When the machine 12 is used for a cyanide zinc plating process, for example, the machine may contain a cleaning section 20 which may consist of one or more individual tanks or stations which neutralize, clean and rinse thework, a pickle tank 22, a rinse tank 24, and a cyanidetype tank 26. The curved tank or station zfiextending around the left hand end ofthe machine is an elongated plating station and can be of any length corresponding to any multiple of the machine stations. The remaining section 30 of the machine will contain individual tanks for a drain tank, ,a cold water rinse, a bright dip tank, another cold water rinse tank and a final hot water rinse tank. Not all of these tanks or stations are illustrated in detail since this invention is concerned primarily with the construction of the barrels 10. r

The machine 12 has a guide track structure 32 which extends-completely around the machine and provides a support for carriage units 34 for supporting the barrels 10. The carriage units 34 are advanced through the tanks from the load station L by a suitable conveyor and lift mechanism (not shown) and are raised priorto reaching the unload station U by a suitable elevating mechanism (not shown). Any mechanism such as the plurality of sprockets illustrated at 36 may be employed for moving the carriage units 34 around the ends of the machine 12.

At stations at which rotation of the barrels 10 is desired to insure an intimate contact of all of the work parts in the barrel with the tank solution at that station, a gear mechanism (not shown) on each carriage 34 is moved into a position in mesh with a drive gear on the frame 16 for rotating the barrel It) on the: carriage 34.

As shown in Figs. 2 land 3,'the barrel 10 consists ofan elongated tubularbody 49 of half round and half hexagonal shape having end walls 42 and a loading and unloading opening 44 (Fig.4) in one side 46 of the barrel It). The side 46 extends between a pair of longitudinally extended reinforcingribs 48 on the body 49 andis an 'arcu ate shape having its center disposed on the axis 50 ofthe body 40. A door 52, likewise of an arcuate shape andhaving its center at the axis-5!), has a radius slightly greater than the radius of the side 46 and is positioned outwardly of the body 40 for movement-to a position ertending across the opening '44-"for closing the barrel "10. r The doorSZ is supported on plates 54 (Figs. 3 and4) positioned adjacent the end walls42 and rotatably supported on tubular hubs 58 for the body 40 so that on rotation of the plates 54 about the hubs 58, the door52 is movable betweena closed position (Fig. 4) in which one edge of the door is engageable with one ofthe ribs 48, and an open position (Fig. 5) in which the opposite edge of the door 52 is engageable with the other rib 48. A latch assembly 60 for releasably holding the door 52 in either of the positions illustrated in Fi'galand 5 is mounted on the door 52. The assembly 60 includes a pair of substantially identical latch members 62 and .64, which. are spaced longitudinally oi the body: 40 andeach o h c s udesea t pered working end 6 6-1l1'aYi 1 a latch member 64 and the latch plate 88.

substantially flat latching face '68. The opposite end of each of the latch members 62 carries a stop plate 70 which extends toward the door 52 and is located opposite a substantially'central portion of the door 52.

As shown in Fig. 3, the latch member 62 carries a handle 72 (Fig. 4) extending outwardly of the body 40 and connected to a block 74 which is rotatably supported on a pin 76 extended between the legs of a U-shape mounting bracket 78 connected to a reinforcing rib 80 on the door 52. A spring-actuated plunger 84 carried by the latch member 62 engages the door 52 for urging the latch member 62 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. In a closed position of the door 52, the plunger 84 urges the working end 66 of the latch member 62 into a position hooked over a cooperating latch plate 86 carried by one of the ribs 48. In this position of the latch member 62, the face 68 thereof engages the plate 86 to positively prevent movement of the door 52 in an opening direction toward the position illustrated in Fig. 5.

In order to release the latch member 62 from the plate 86, it is necessary to swing the handle 72 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 about the pin 76 and against the pressure ofthe spring-pressed plunger 84 to a position in which the plate 70 engages the door 52. In this position of the latch member 62, the latching face 68 thereof is in a clearance relation with the plate 86 so that it does not interfere with movement of the door 52 toward the open position thereof.

In the open position of the door 52, in which it is to one side of the opening 44 as shown in Fig. 5, the working end 66 of the latch member 64, which is mounted like the latch member 62, hooks over a plate 88 secured to a rib 48 on the body 40 for preventing movement of the door 52 toward the closed position shown in Fig. 4. A spring-pressed plunger 90 carried by the opposite end of the latch member 64 urges the working end 66 of the latch member 64 into latching engagement with the latch plate 88 for preventing accidental disengagement of the In order to release the latch member 64 from the latch plate 88, it is necessary to swing a handle 92 carried by the latch member 64 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. about a pivot pin support 94' therefor to raise the working end 68 of the latch member 64 to a position outwardly of the latch plate 88. The pivot member 94 is carried in a U-shape bracket 95, like the bracket 78, and swinging movement of the latch member 64 in a latchreleasing direction is limited by engagement of the stop plate 70 therefor with the cover 52. The bracket 95 is mounted on a rib 97 on the cover 52.

In the operation of the machine 12, when a barrel is moved to the unloading station U, the barrel is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 so that a stop member 96 mounted on a horizontal pivot 98 on a stationary support 100 on the frame 16 engages the handle 72 on the latch member 62. The stop member 96is urged to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 4 by a spring 102 so that it exerts a yieldable upward force on the handle 72 tending to rotate the handle 72 and the latch member 62 about the pin 76. This rotation releases the latch member 62' from the latch plate 86 after which the door 52 is moved to the open position by the force of the stop member 96 on the handle 72. On continued rotation of the barrel 10 in a clockwise direction, the contents of the barrel are dumped through the opening 44 into a receptacle or onto a conveyor (not shown). Rotation continues until a cam-shape switch actuating member 104 on the body 40 engages a switch control lever 106 which discontinues rotation of the barrel 10 so that it stops in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The empty barrel 10 with the opening 44 facing upwardly as shown in Fig. 5 is then moved to the loading station L where it is conveniently filled with parts to be plated froma loading chute or .the like, The loaded barrel 10 is then rotated in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 to move the handle 92 into engagement with a spring-urged stop member 110 like the stop member 96. The stop member 118 acts on the handle 92 to first release the latch member 64 from the latch plate 88 and then move the door 52 tothe closed position. When the door is moved toward the closed position, the tapered shape of the working end 66 of the latch member 62 insures a latching engagement of the end 66 with the plate 86. The door 52 is then preventedfrom accidentally opening during travel of the barrel 10 through the machine 12.

A modified latch assembly 6011 is illustrated in Fig. 6.

mounted on the cover 52 for the barrel 10. The assembly 60a includes a U-shape mounting bracket 120 secured to the outer side of a central portion of the door 52 and a pair of latch members 121 and 123 formed as an integral one-piece unit 122 having both ends 124 and 125 shaped like the tapered working ends 66 of the latch members 62 and 64 previously described. The central portion of the latch unit 122 carries a depending pivot block 126 which supports a pin 128 that is pivotally supported on the bracket 120 so that the latch unit 122 is pivotally movable about the pin 128. A handle member 130 secured to the central portion of the latch unit 122 extends outwardly of the barrel 10 for engagement with the stop members 96 and 110.

A pair of spring plunger assemblies 132 and 134 mounted on the cover ribs 80 and 97, respectively, alternately urge the latch member ends 124 and 125 into engagement with the latch plates 86 and 88, respectively.

Each of the assemblies 132 and 134 includes asupporting plate .136 for slidably mounting a plunger 138 in a position extending toward the latch unit 122. Each plunger 138 has a tapered head 140 and a spring 142 which extends about the plunger 138 and urges the head 140 into engagement with the latch unit 122 so as to urge the latch unit in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction depending on its position.

In the operation of the machine 12 with a barrel 10 having the latch assembly 60a, assume that the cover 52 is in the closed position shown in Fig. 6 so that the latch member end 124 is hooked over the latch plate 86. On rotation of the barrel 10 in a clockwise direction, the handle 130 engages the stop member 96 which acts to rotate the latch unit 122 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 128, with the plungers 138 reversing their positions so that the one in the assembly 132 extends underneath the latch unit 122 and the one in the assembly 134 extends over the latch unit 122. As a result, the plunger assemblies 132 and 134 urge the latch member end 125 inwardly of the barrel 10. The engagement of the handle 130 with the stop 96 moves the cover,5 2 to an open position so that the latch member end 125 hooks over the latch plate 88 to hold the cover open.

On rotation of the barrel 10 in an opposite direction, the handle 130 strikes the stop member 110 which moves the latch member 122 and the'cover 52 in a reverse direction to close the cover and hook the latch end 124 over the latch plate 86.

The barrels 10 may be constructed of a variety of materials depending on the specific process in which they will be used. When used for electrified operations they are made of a suitable insulating material and when used for chemical operations not requiring electric current, they are made of a suitable metal or alloy. In all cases, the barrels 10 have perforations providing for a flow of fluid thercthrough when the barrels are immersed.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes can be made therein which are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p r p 1. In material handling apparatus which includes a rotatable material container movable along a predeter- .5 mined path and provided with an opening through which material is loaded into the container and unloaded. from the container, a door panel niovably mountedon said container for movement between an open position entirely to one side of said opening during loading and unloading of the container and a closed position'extending across the opening during movement along said path, and co-aoting releasable latch means on said panel and said container for releasably maintaining the panel in said open and closed positions. v

2. In material handling apparatus which includes a rotatable material container movable along a predetermined path, a door panel for said container rnovablebetween an open position duringloading and unloading of the container and a closed position during movement along said path, co-acting releasable latchmeans on said panel and said container for releasably maintaining the panel in said open and closed positions, and handle means on said latch'means operable on movement in one direction to both release said latch means and move said door panel from one position to another.

3. A container comprising a hollow body member having an opening in one side thereof, a door panel mounted on the body member for movement about an axis between a first position extending across said opening and a second position to one side of the opening, co-acting latch means on the body member and the panel for releasably maintaining the door panel in said positions, said latch means comprising a pair of latch members and corresponding plate'members,'one of the latch members being rotatable in one direction into latching engagement with the corresponding plate member and the other latch member being rotatable in the opposite direction into latching engagement with the other latch member.

4. In material handling apparatus which includes a rotatable material container movable along a predetermined substantially horizontal path and rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, a door panel for said container movable transversely of said axis between an open position during loading and unloading of the container and a closed position during movement of the container along said path, co-acting releasable latch means on said panel and said container for releasably maintaining the panel in said open and closed positions, and handle means on said latch means operable in response to the application of a force thereto in a direction substantially transversely of said axis to both release said latch means and move the door panel from one position to the other.

5. In a material treating machine, a material container comprising a tubular body member having end walls and a loading and unloading opening in one side thereof, a door panel for said opening, supporting plates for said door panel rotatably mounted on the end walls for swinging the door panel between a first position extending across said opening and a second position to one side of the opening, a latch assembly mounted on said door panel, said latch assembly including a pair of latch members extending transversely of said panel in the directions of rotation thereof, a first latch retaining plate member on the body member engageable with one of said latch members in the first position of the panel, a second latch retaining plate member engageable with the other latch member in the second position of the panel, and spring means operatively associated with the latch assembly for releasably maintaining each latch member in latching engagement with its corresponding plate member.

6. In a material treating machine, a material container comprising a tubular body member having end walls and a loading and unloading opening in one side thereof, a door panel for said opening, supporting plates for said door panel rota-tably mounted on the end walls for swinging the door panel between a first position extending across said opening and a second position to one side of the opening, a latch assembly mounted on said ,doorpaneLsaid latch iassernbly including a pair of latchmembefrs extending transversely of saidpanel in the directions of rotation thereof, a first latch retaining plate member on the body member engageable with one of said latch members in the first position of the panel,

moving the door panel toward a position in which the other latch member engages its corresponding plate member.

7.. A container comprising a hollow body member havingan opening-incite side thereof, a door panel mounted on the body member for movement about an axis be- ,tween a first position extending across said opening and a second position to one side of the opening, co-acting latch means on the body member and the panel for releasably maintaining the door panel in each of said positions, said latch means comprising a pair of integral latch members and corresponding plate members, said latch members being rotatable in one direction into a position in which one of .the latch members is in latching engagement with the corresponding plate member and being rotatable in the opposite direction into a position in which the other latch member is in latching engagement with the other plate member, and spring urged means on said panel engageable with said latch members in each of said positions for releasably maintaining the latch members in said position.

8. A container comprising a hollow body member having an opening in one side thereof, a door panel mounted on the body member for movement about an axis extending longitudinally of the container between a first position extending across said opening and a second position to one side of the opening, co-acting latch means on the body member and the panel for releasably maintaining the door panel in each of said positions, said latch means comprising a unitary latch unit having a central portion pivotally supported on the door panel for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to said first mentioned axis, said latch unit including a pair of latch members extending in opposite directions from said central portion and corresponding plate members, said latch members being rotatable in one direction into a position in which one of the latch members is in latching engagement with the corresponding plate member and being rotatable in the opposite direction into a position in which the other latch member is in latching engagement with the other plate member, and spring-urged means on said panel engageable with said latch members in each of said positions for releasably maintaining the latch members in said position.

9. In a material treating machine, a material container comprising a tubular body member having end walls and a loading and unloading opening in one side thereof, a door panel for said opening, supporting plates for said door panel rotatably mounted on the end Walls for swinging the door panel between a first position extending across said opening and a second position to one side of the opening, a latch assembly mounted on said door panel and including a pair of latch members extending transversely of said panel, a first latch plate member on the body member engageable with one of said latch members in the first position of the door panel, a second latch plate member engageable with the other latch member in the second position of the door panel, each latch memher having a working end provided withan inclined side and a latch face intersecting said side at one end thereof so that said side rides on its corresponding plate memsure of the spring means to release whichever one of said latch members is engaged with its corresponding plate member.

10. In a plating machine which includes a main frame and means on the main frame for supporting containers for parts to be plated so that the containers are moved along a predetermined path between several stations and are also rotatable about horizontal axes, a container comprising a hollow body member having a loading and unloading opening in one side, a door panel mounted on body member for movement between a first position extending across said opening and a second position to one side of the opening, a latch assembly mounted on said door, said latch assembly including a pair of latch members extending transversely of said panel in the directions of rotation thereof, a first latch retaining plate member on the body member engageable with one of said latch members in the first position of the panel, a second latch retaining plate member engageable with the other latch member in the second position of the panel, spring means operatively associated with the latch assem 'bly for releasably maintaining each latch member in latching engagement with its corresponding plate member, handle means on said latch assembly for moving the assembly against the pressure of the spring means to release the one of; said latch members which is engaged with its corresponding plate member and for moving the door panel toward a position in which the other latch 'member engages its corresponding plate member, a first stop member on the main frame engageable with the handle means on rotation of the container in one direction when the container is in one station to move the handle means in a direction to release the latch member and the corresponding plate member which are holding the door panel in said first position and to move said door panel to said second position, and a second stop member on the main frame engageable with the handle means on rotationof the container in the opposite direction when the container is in a second station to move the handle means in a direction to release the latch member and the corresponding plate member which are holding the door panel in said second position and to move said door panel to said first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,490 Beetham Nov. 19, 1929 264,213 Alsing Sept. 12, 1882 1,285,369 Potthotf Nov. 19, 1918 

